Today’s episode is the annual bonus Allusionist, featuring outtakes from some of this year’s guests saying things that were not necessarily related to the topic of the original episode, or even related to language at all, but I thought, “Hmm! Interesting!” and filed them away until THIS MOMENT.

This is not a typical episode of the Allusionist, so if this is your first time here, welcome! And do try a few different episodes of the show to get a picture. This year there have been episodes about your names, and superhero names; about how swearing can be good for your health, and so can novels; about tattoos, and typing champions; about how the drive to survive sent the Welsh language across an ocean, and the Scots language to hide at home; and many more. Thanks so much for spending time with me over 2018.

GLEN WELDON: I still do believe in this notion that superheroes are a very flattering mirror. They are ourselves, but better, They make the choice to help others at risk to themselves. They don't give up, and they look out for the needs of others over those of themselves. And it is not complicated and it's not nuanced, and it's not even particularly insightful what it is is a good model to live by. It's the golden rule in spandex.
HZ: But with a lot of the names, it's easy to tell which side those are on. So Superman, Wonder Woman: they sound like goodies. The Flash: that sounds spectacular. Spider-Man... a lot of people really hate spiders. So that's a little more ambiguous.
GLEN WELDON: Yeah, of course. And Batman, you think the guy's going to get in your hair, or give you rabies.